Memory Verse:
“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the LORD,
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.
Isaiah 1:18 NKJV
I love this time of year. From Thanksgiving through the first weeks of the new year, I am reflective and forward-thinking. As I pray, fast, and review our church’s year—from attendance and baptisms to the lives and families represented—I think about how we can continue to create opportunities for people to connect with Jesus. I also reflect on my personal life, often critically, considering where I’ve fallen short and how I can grow as a man of God, husband, father, and leader.
As I prepared this week’s sermon, I was struck by the dual themes of love and God with us. Family gatherings during the holidays can bring joy but also remind us of who is missing—whether through distance, loss, or life’s circumstances. My grandfather used to say, “You need to come; this might be the last year you can see or visit so and so.” As years passed, I began to notice who wasn’t there—not just due to loss, but because life naturally creates tension and separation.
There have been times that I have not been present at family gatherings, either physically or even emotionally. I have some cousins and uncles who, over the years, have given me a hard time about not being at family gatherings. For a while, it would frustrate me, but then I realized it was because they cared, they loved me being around, and they loved me.
When Life Feels Empty, God’s Love is Present
Even joyful moments can carry bittersweet memories. We miss loved ones who are no longer with us, yet their stories and traditions remain. These moments stir emotions we often suppress: feelings of loss, sadness, or even regret. But here’s the transition I want to make this morning—if we understand the weight of absence, we should be even more grateful for God’s presence.
God’s Love Completes and Fulfills Our Life
God’s love is unlike anything we’ve experienced. While we often focus on what’s missing or what we lack, God’s love fills the gaps. His presence reminds us that we are never alone. When we think of Jesus’ birth, we see this love clearly—God chose to be with us. The prophecy of Isaiah 7 was fulfilled in Matthew 1, where we see the miraculous event of Christ’s birth: God coming to dwell among us.
This miracle wasn’t just a fulfillment of prophecy but a demonstration of God’s love. Mary, a virgin, conceived through the Holy Spirit—a miraculous act only God could accomplish. This was no ordinary event; it was divine intervention, and it shows us the lengths God will go to be with us.
God Stepped into Our Brokenness to Draw Us Into His Love
As we reflect on Advent and the theme of love, let’s remember that God didn’t come to us out of obligation or necessity. He chose to come because of love. Jesus came to live among us, to walk alongside us, and ultimately to give His life for us. His presence brings hope, peace, joy, and love—gifts we can embrace today.
The Incarnation
Matthew 1:18-23
The Incarnation is Evidence of God’s Love
Immanuel is more than a Name; it is the Fulfillment of a Promise
The Word Became Flesh
John 1:14
Jesus Didn’t Stay Away From US; He Came to Live with Us
Jesus Did Not Stay Distant; He Stepped Into Suffering for Us
He felt what we felt
He ate the food we eat
He grew tired
He wept
He experienced emotions
Jesus was personal and intimate
A Perfect High Priest
Hebrews 4:14-16
The Work and Role of the High Priest Ended at the Cross Because Jesus Completed the Ultimate Sacrifice
Jesus was our High Priest, who was both Mediator and Sacrifice at the same time. His life was the sacrifice that built the bridge into a relationship with God.
Bridges are among the most iconic symbols in our world. Think of the Golden Gate Bridge, stretching across the San Francisco Bay, or the Brooklyn Bridge, uniting Manhattan and Brooklyn. Even the Hoover Dam, while not a traditional bridge, connects two sides of a canyon with its engineering marvel. These structures represent human ingenuity and the desire to connect what was once separated. But as magnificent as these structures are, they pale in comparison to the most important bridge ever built—the one Jesus created. This bridge spans not just physical distances but the greatest divide of all: the chasm between humanity and God.
Jesus’ bridge is unlike any other. It’s a bridge that turns crimson stains into soft wool, as Isaiah 1:18 reminds us: ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.’ This is a bridge of redemption, reconciliation, and restoration—a bridge built through the cross and sealed by the resurrection.
Because of this bridge, we have direct access to God, as the writer of Hebrews assures us: ‘Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence.’ This bridge isn’t just historical—it’s personal. It invites us, right now, to step into the presence of a holy God, not because of anything we’ve done, but because of what Jesus has done for us.
Because God Chose to Be With Us, We Have the Privilege of Choosing Him
Reflection & Response
Are you keeping God at a distance?
Is the presence of God’s Love influencing others around you?
Jesus understands you…
As we close today, let’s marvel at this truth: the God of the universe chose to be with us. He didn’t come as a distant deity but as a Savior who walked among us, felt our pain, and loved us deeply. Just for a moment imagine what our lives would be like if we did not have a relationship with Jesus, Immanuel.
He is our perfect High Priest, our Immanuel, God with us. And because He chose to live with us, we have the privilege of choosing Him—daily, intentionally, and wholeheartedly. This Advent season, my prayer is we not just celebrate His coming but live in the reality of His presence, allowing His love to transform our hearts and extend love through us to others. Let’s leave here today with renewed confidence to draw near to His throne of grace and a commitment to live out His love in the world around us.